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What Is Mold Infographic
For more than a decade, mold has been in the news.
People are talking about the effect on population health
and damage to the building. But what are the risks and issues?
A number of agencies have guidelines that include protective
measures for mold remediation and cleaning.
There continues to be considerable scientific advances on the effects of molds and established links to potential health effects. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Academy of Medicine (NAM), World Health Organization (WHO), and Health Canada, all agree exposure to mold in buildings increases the risk of respiratory disease. Although there are no universally accepted standards for safe mold levels in indoor environments, several guidance documents exist.
Mold sensitivities vary from person to person, and individual differences play a significant role in the type and severity of symptoms experienced. AIHA provides comprehensive remediation and control guidance, including inspection and sampling protocols in their Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Indoor Mold, also known as the "Green Book." This includes visual inspection techniques, air sampling methods and interpretation, allowing for successful remediation, and the ability to assess hidden contamination.
A complex problem
Communicating the health risks of mold to the public remains a complex problem for the scientific community. The truth is simpler solutions are easier to understand. Media attention on this topic creates emotionally charged circumstances. This renders professional judgment and reasoned dialogue challenging. In some instances, building owners often ignore or dismiss potentially serious problems. Seldom do buildings have just one problem, and many indoor air quality (IAQ) problems are not mold related. This makes communicating risk difficult.
Practical resources for the public
The resources offered below provide practical information from experienced AIHA professionals and volunteers. While not an exhaustive repository, this information is best used in conjunction with other guidance documents, and professional judgment by qualified consultants and public health officials. Mold prevention is the challenge of making tough and often costly decisions with limited or evolving information.
The following agencies and organizations have guidance related to mold response:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
For IH/OEHS and IAQ professionals, the updated "Green Book" is available.
After external peer review, the AIHA Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Indoor Mold, 2nd (2020) is now available. The new edition offers expertise from industrial hygiene practitioners, academics, government officials, and scientists.
What’s inside:
- Comprehensive guide to mold in buildings, covering its evaluation, remediation, and control.
- Images of mold found in building exterior and interior.
- Innovative methods and approaches.
Peruse a sample chapter below.
